Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 December 2016
201. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health if he has received correspondence from a person (details supplied) regarding the death of their child in a maternity hospital; if he has made inquiries of the maternity hospital in relation to the case; the recourse available to the person to establish the causes and circumstances of their child's death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39357/16]
View answerI am aware of correspondence from the individual concerned and I have written to personally express my deepest sympathies to the family.
I understand that the death of the child occurred in Temple Street Hospital and Temple Street Hospital has been in contact with the family a number of times to discuss and clarify the circumstances of their child's death, post-mortem and burial, and has issued an apology. I hope that the information provided by the hospital has been of some assistance has provided some solace for the family.
I regret to say that my Department is not in a position to provide further information other than that already provided directly by Temple Street hospital. However, if the family wishes to pursue the matter further, it is open to them to contact the HSE Director of Advocacy and the Ombudsman/Ombudsman for Children, in line with the complaints process details, of which are on the HSE website, at http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/yourhealthservice/feedback/complaints/.
